Visa and Immigration FAQs

No. Generally, students must be in the United States on an F-1 visa. Some exceptions apply, but B-class visas, as well as ESTA and F-2 classes, are not permitted.

After you are accepted into the program and have paid your deposit, you will be instructed to submit the International Student Form via your application portal. Please answer all questions and submit all required documents, and you will receive guidance on what to do next.

You may submit a bank statement or a letter from your bank. These documents must follow certain guidelines. Please refer to the category #1 instructions on our visa and immigration guide page for more details.

You should always travel with a passport that is valid for at least six months after your travel date. If you need to renew your passport, please do it as soon as possible. When applying for an I-20, you will need to submit the passport that you will use to enter the country.

If you require an I-20, you will receive it via email no later than 10 business days after submitting your International Student Form.

1. Sign the I-20.
2. Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee.
3. Complete the DS-160 visa application
4. Schedule a visa interview (if required).
5. Complete your F-1 Status Follow-up form and upload the required documents to the application portal.

Apply as soon as you receive your I-20 and pay the SEVIS fee. Visa appointment availability can be limited and delays may affect your ability to participate in the program. Please review the category #1 instructions on our visa and immigration guide page for more details.

If you cannot secure a visa appointment in time, we will most likely have to cancel your participation in the program. We may review individual cases, but students should continue seeking earlier appointments and emergency interview opportunities.

If it is within 60 days before the program start date, you may apply for an expedited interview by following these directions.

In some situations, USC may temporarily accept evidence of visa approval while students wait for passport return and visa issuance. Please email Shelly Snellman at visa.sp@usc.edu with your visa interview date and approval notice.

USC Summer Programs requires you to submit your proof of visa before the tuition due date. In most cases, USC Summer Programs will cancel your participation due to lack of visa before you pay the tuition. 

If you pay before receiving your valid visa, you are eligible for a refund as long as you drop the program and request the refund before the withdrawal deadline. Please see this year’s withdrawal date and policy on our website’s admission, tuition and fees page.

Please note that the $1,000 deposit is not refundable under any circumstance, including visa delays.

• Passport
• Signed I-20
• SEVIS fee receipt
• Proof of financial support
• Evidence of ties to your home country

Students, especially Canadian and Bermudian students, should actively present their I-20 when entering in F-1 status.

Canadian citizens do not need a formal F-1 visa to enter the United States; however, they must still enter the country in F-1 status using their USC I-20 and supporting immigration documents. 

Canadian students must actively present their I-20 to the customs officer when entering in F-1 status. Otherwise, the customs officer will not ask for your I-20 — they will simply assume you’re a tourist and stamp you in as a B-class visitor. It is your responsibility to show the officer your I-20 so that they can stamp you in as an F-class student.

Yes. Students entering the United States should obtain and review their electronic I-94 record after arrival. Check the visa class to ensure that the correct status was recorded.

Contact Shelly Snellman at visa.sp@usc.edu immediately. Students may need to visit DHS Deferred Inspection to correct the record.

Immigration Status Verification (ISV) is the process used to verify that a student has entered the country and has maintained the correct immigration status. USC Summer Programs students should not submit ISV for themselves. Summer programs staff will submit all required documents on the student’s behalf.

You may enter the country up to 30 days before the program start date.

No, please keep your immigration documents with you at all times. This includes your passport, visa, signed I-20, I-94 and SEVIS receipt.

Travel may require proper authorization, including a valid travel endorsement on your I-20. Students should contact Shelly Snellman at visa.sp@usc.edu before making travel plans.

A travel endorsement is a signature on your I-20 that may be required for reentry to the United States during your F-1 program.

Students in F-1 status are generally allowed a grace period after their program end date. 

Currently, students may remain in the United States for 60 days after their programs ends. This may change to 30 days soon, so please check with Shelly Snellman at visa.sp@usc.edu before making arrangements.

You will be required to depart the United States immediately.

Yes, if you maintain valid F-1 status and meet transfer requirements. You may request a transfer by emailing Shelly Snellman at visa.sp@usc.edu. 

• Student name
• SEVIS ID
• Receiving school name
• Receiving school address
• School SEVIS code
• Requested SEVIS release date